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The United Nations human rights chief warned Friday that the world is becoming “more dangerous” as armed conflicts increase, international law is disregarded and attacks on civilians intensify.
Addressing the Human Rights Council, Volker Turk said the threat and use of force to resolve disputes is becoming more frequent and normalized.
“The world really is becoming a more dangerous place,” Turk said, noting that the number of armed conflicts has nearly doubled since 2010 to around 60.
Turk said civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, describing conflict as “a human rights wasteland” and warning against returning to violence as a guiding principle in international affairs.
He cited crises in Sudan, Ukraine, the occupied Palestinian territory and Myanmar as examples of what he called blatant violations of international law, including attacks on infrastructure, humanitarian convoys and civilian populations.
“Attacks on civilians are up by almost one-third,” he said, adding that ignoring atrocity crimes leads to “greater bloodshed.”
Turk warned that some leaders are undermining institutions meant to uphold global law and accountability rather than reversing current trends.
“Instead, some of them are attacking the institutions designed to keep us safe – the United Nations, including the International Court of Justice; the International Criminal Court; this Council, and its mechanisms,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Turk said human rights remain central to global stability and public trust.
“In short, people desperately want their human rights,” he said, urging states to recommit to international law, accountability and cooperation.
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